State Rep. Alma Allen of District 131, which sweeps like an east-west crescent across the south side of Houston, is known for her long career as a principal in HISD schools, a 12-year tenure on the State Board of Education and 14 years in the Texas House of Representatives.

Her name popped up recently as a possible HISD superintendent candidate, but at 79 she is seeking another term in the House where she was vice chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Corrections Committee.

Her Republican opponent, Syed Ali, 54, emigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan in 1980. He has owned convenience stores and several other businesses and wants to pay this country back by joining the Legislature and enacting beneficial laws, particularly aimed at helping young people.

Ali says too much of the district is impoverished, crime-ridden and in need of hope and new leadership.

“Education is the key. They are not being educated, but they are very smart,” Ali said.

Allen painted a brighter picture of the 131st, which she said is “growing by leaps and bounds.” But she agreed that too many of its residents have spent time behind bars and face major obstacles to getting jobs when they get out.

She passed a bill making it possible to expunge a misdemeanor criminal record but failed with another that would have allowed people getting out of prison to get a driver’s license.

She voted for legalizing medical marijuana in the past and plans to vote next session for legalizing it period, medical or not.

"I'm voting for it because it keeps my people out of jail," she said.

Ali is well intended, but Allen is widely respected, knows first hand the injustice of racism and has been on the front lines against it for many years.